Iron Craft '14: Three or black leather belt, refashion #3

First iron craft challenge is Three. Iron craft has now gone through 3 years!! Wow! I started in the first year, took the second year off to sew, and did the third year. Now we are starting our 4th. How great is that? Third anniversary is leather or crystal (the modern gift). So my craft sort of covers both.

Remember these hideous leather pants I refashioned for Refashion Runway. Complete with a tally of expenses for New Years a long time ago...?

And then I turned them into shorts?

Well I kept all the leather I had leftover for future projects, I just can't get rid of these animal products. One of them was the original top band for the pants.

I decided I wanted to turn it into a belt. Since it has a nice shape. First I needed to remove the button, hole, and also the leftover original belt holder pieces. Next, I found a belt buckle and 2 inch elastic. I found my perfect length- Didn't need too much. Sewed. I needed to cover up the original needle marks so I used some of my rhinestone trim I have had forever, covered the top and bottom. Done!!

Finally my end belt! Which after some sort of bout with a mild form of gastroenteritis, I wanted no where near my abdomen. I will just have to settle with a picture of it on my table. The thought of taking of end photo was not going to happen!

Cheers to my first iron craft!!
Lauren

Snowflake long sleeve top McCall's pattern 6796

This was a really easy pattern to sew. Since it is sooo cold out I am trying to focus more of things I could wear right now in these frigid temperatures. Time for more of that snowflake knit fabric.

I used this easy McCall's pattern 6796. 

The fit is pretty well, the arms are not tight but it doesn't look like they are supposed to-I am fine with that. Super easy to sew except for that cowl. I got confused on how to add it. Messed me up pretty bad. I actually did it my way as I was afraid that  the seam would show. I added my own buttons- 2 instead of 3. This top was so busy as it was with the pattern- these were just a small little hint of sparkle as they are rhinestones covered in a thin mesh fabric. The length is great for myself.

If you might remember I used this fabric for my leggings project. I now have a dress in the works with this fabric and I should be sending it to the scrap bin. I have a few charity project ideas for this fabric. I mean how cute would this fabric be for a pair of baby shoes? Christmas ornaments? Still thinking. Baby steps. Let's make some clothes first and then deal with the smaller stuff. :0)

Cheers,
Lauren

Refashion #2: sleevless too tight button down

Today is an exciting day! I am doing a Guest Post over at House of Estrela's series January Refashion Month.

Today's refashion is all about this lovely too tight and weird looking blue button down I found, that I thought could work as is... sadly not

Come on over to House of Estrela for the tutorial on how I converted this shirt into something more wearable.

Yes there is now a surprise in the back! :)

Cheers,
Lauren

Mummy shirt redo, refashion #1

I found this cool shirt, which I called a mummy shirt the way it looks like it is wrapped. Not a bad fit.

The problem was there was a small stain I could not get out. 

I decided it needed to be dyed. This was a nylon blend so the best way I could dye this was with my Acid Dye in Honey Mustard. I made a dye bath and away we went. OMG it turned out great!

Here it is on! A better fix and you can't see the stain anymore. It blends in. Now I normally can't wear yellow but this is a gold, paired with my navy blue skirt- it is a great color combo!

Love my first refashion. Good bye stains! 1 down 98 to go!!!! :) It is going to be long year.

Cheers,
Lauren

RTW Challenge 2014

If you have read my 2014 Resolutions, you know a little bit about this challenge from Goodbye Valentino.

So why? Why am I crazy enough to accept this challenge? Well, I have actually done this before back 2 years ago when I was trying to get out of debt and felt like I was in a creative lull. So no buying brand new clothes- thrift and refashion OR sew my own from this huge stash of fabric I got off craigslist.

Let's take a trip down memory lane...remember this fabric? Around 2011 or so. Here is my car filled to the brim with boxes and boxes and boxes of fabric

This was only SOME of it after I took it out and washed every single piece of fabric in those boxes.It was a couch of fabric. 

Then I packed it up in my luggage and shoved into a closet (while a pile remained outside)

Now I won't lie that I have myself purchased fabric on sale (I mean Hancock Fabrics this weekend has a crazy bolt sale where everything is like $2.97 or under- you can't turn down $25/yard wool blends for $2.97) for myself. Some of the fabric was crazy in the stash that I had got. But after sewing a lot for charity combined with giving some away to others when I moved, I have truly made some ground.

But in all honesty, I want to move more out of the closet. There is a lot. I really wanted a push (excuse?) to force myself to sew more this year and hence why I accepted this challenge. Plus we are almost done with paying things off, this will definitely help. I am actually down to 4 suitcases now 2 large and 2 small. My goal is to get at least one of the large suitcases gone.

So here is to sewing and refashioning this year. My blog will have a lot of this in the upcoming year. Some crafting b/c I still enjoy that. And some more gf reviews but hopefully more recipes. My goal is to have 2 refashions/week. 1 iron craft challenge every other week. Will still try and keep GF food on fridays. The weekends I hope to have sewing and bellydance DVDs reviews complete. Whew that is a lot of stuff! Busy girl here but busy in a good way.

Cheers,
Lauren

Gluten Free Review: Pancake Mix- FAIL

We tried this mix on Christmas. We decided to splurge and make some pancakes. So we tried this mix I think I got from my mom. I can't remember. It was just in our pantry.

Easy to make, cook, they LOOKED decent

However, they literally fall apart in our mouths. It was impossible to pick it up with a fork. The taste wasn't all that awesome. It was super light hence why it just fell apart. I didn't even finish mine, neither did my boyfriend. We threw away the rest of the box mix. Not worth it, Don't recommend.

Hopefully there will be better food reviews in 2014!

Cheers,
Lauren

2014 New Years Resolutions

Alright here we go! Here are my goals for the New Year! Come on 2014!! Happy New years!!

1. New Sewing techniques. I would like to try more and use some of these feet I have for my sewing machine. Like ruching with elastic in my bobbin. Pin tucking. Sewing with the circular foot attachment.

2. Make 1 thing from each sewing book.

1. Burda Style Sewing Handbook
2. Thrifty Style
3. 49 Sensational Skirts
4. Generation T
5. Custom Couture
6. Pattern Magic 
7. Pattern Magic 2
8. Pattern Magic Stretch Fabric
9. Drape Drape 1
10. Drape Drape 2
11. Drape Drape 3
12. Little Green Dresses

3. 99 Refashion Challenge. Oh yeah that is a lot of Refashions! But away I go! I have that many projects I can do!!! 

4. Get my sewing patterns online at Pattern Review, which may take me all year!!! 

5. Get rid of 1 more suitcase of fabric (preferably the big one with the broken wheel).

6. Get rid of 1 more box of bling (beads, sequins, etc)

7. Try at least 1 more knitting item. I did a scarf, I can totally do another scarf. But try and learn to purl. I'm cool with a scarf. 

8. Make at least 2 recipes for my cookbooks. Or else toss.

9. 30 more sewing patterns

10. Convert my old tapes to DVD and condense my stuff!

11. Try 1 new thing this year I have never done before! I'm thinking trapeze school.... But open to other ideas! 

12. Try to not buy anything else unless I need it. Seriously I have so much stuff!! Actually I have just signed up for the Ready to Wear Fast challenge at Goodbye Valentine. This entire year I intend to not purchase any store brought clothing (besides socks, underwear, and shoes), will either sew or refashion my clothing. Which I am totally fine with, actually I did this what 2 years ago? I highly enjoyed it and it spurred my creativity while I learned how to sew. It was great! I highly encourage.

13. Out of debt. I am so close. Pending a disaster we will do it! And hopefully before the summer.

14. Read a book for FUN. Yes this is virtually impossible for me. No idea why, it is either sewing or science book. This year I will try and read a book for fun. There is just not enough time in the day.

15. See my extra points list

.....................................

So I would like to have an earn an extra points list. Just because if I do I should be rewarded. Here is my list

1. Rest of DVDs for bellydance (0.5 extra) and another 0.5 if I can sell the ones I don't want.

2. t-shirt quilt

3. 5k

4. BD costume finish

5. New bedspread/comforter and headboard.
6. Get that 2nd room organized and decluttered.
7. 25 more items sewn for charity.
8. Prom dress refashions for charity. Oh just wait I hope I can make this happen!
9. Any of the craft kits I have, if I get 1 done that will be amazing!!

So do you set New Years Resolutions? How good are you with keeping them?? I found that putting it out online for all to see is an incentive for me to keep them. I hate saying I accomplished nothing. Don't know why I do but that is how it works out.

From my blog to yours, Have a Happy and Productive New Years!! Here's to 2014 bringing love, happiness, joy, creativity, sewing, and refashioning!

Cheers,
Lauren